William Carvalho to Arsenal: Gunners 'make £28.5m' offer for Sporting Lisbon midfielder - reports

Carvalho has a £37m release clause in his contract but ha been linked with a move to the Premier League in the past

Portugal Under-21 international William Carvalho (Getty Images)

Arsenal have renewed their interest in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Williams Carvalho after his impressive performance in the European Under-21 Championship against England, it has been reported.

Carvalho was one of many who dazzled in Portugal’s 1-0 victory over Gareth Southgate’s side on Thursday, and the Gunners have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old since last summer in a bid to address their defensive midfield position.

Carvalho has a £37m release clause in his contract, but The Sun is reporting that Arsenal have lodged a £28.5m transfer offer to try and prise the midfielder away from the Portuguese side and bring him to the Premier League.

Manchester United have also been linked with Carvalho in the past, though his impressive showing in the Czech Republic will have caught a number of clubs’ eyes if they weren’t already watching.

Arsenal’s need to land a world class midfielder has been played down in 2015 given the emergence of Francis Coquelin, with the Frenchman providing some bite in the middle of the park and allowing the creative options in front of him to push forward.

Coquelin emerged as an Arsenal first-team player last season (Getty Images)

However, a number of former Arsenal players, including David Seaman and Ray Parlour, have expressed a desire to see another quality midfielder brought into the squad to increase the competition among the squad, given that there is little option to replace Coquelin should he pick up an injury or suspension.